
A group of students from the Mt Kenya University’s Kisii campus have taken a bold step by launching an online petition, urging the institution to reconsider its exam schedule.
The students, primarily from the Seventh Day Adventist faith, are seeking to ban exams on Saturdays, a day of worship for their religious community.
The petition highlights the consistent disregard for the religious practices of Seventh Day Adventist students who find themselves unable to take exams on Saturdays.
According to the petition, the university’s administration has been unresponsive to their repeated appeals for accommodation.
One of the students leading the initiative stated, “We are Seventh-day Adventist students, and on Saturdays we go to church. We are not allowed to take any tests that are given on the Sabbath.”
This issue goes beyond mere scheduling conflicts; it challenges these students’ fundamental right to practice their religion without hindrance.
The students further emphasized that this predicament has hindered their ability to exercise their civic duty.
They expressed how they are unable to cast their votes due to the examination schedule clashing with their religious obligations.
Moreover, the injustice extends to their academic performance, as they feel that missing exams on days of worship negatively impacts their grades and overall achievements.
The petitioners invoke the Commission for University Education (CUE), seeking its intervention to ensure the institution’s compliance with the Universities Act of 2012.
This act mandates educational institutions to adhere to inclusive guidelines that prohibit any form of discrimination based on religion or other beliefs.
The students’ plea for CUE’s attention is further supported by Article 32(1) and (2) of the Kenyan Constitution of 2010, which underscores the importance of safeguarding equality and the unalienable right to practice one’s religion.
Nearly a thousand students have already rallied behind the petition, standing in solidarity with their fellow Seventh Day Adventist peers.
The students passionately urged others to join their cause, emphasizing the profound impact this scheduling conflict has on their lives.
“Sign this petition in solidarity with students who are not only aggrieved but disenfranchised as a result of missing exams due to the scheduling conflict,” they implored.
The university administration, including the dean of the Mount Kenya Campus, has come under mounting pressure from students to address this issue.
The call for change is not only driven by religious considerations but also by a desire for fairness and equity.
The students are advocating for exams to be rescheduled to alternate weekdays to ensure that their right to worship and their academic aspirations are both respected.
Despite the students’ efforts and the mounting support for their cause, the petition has yet to receive a formal acknowledgment from the Commission for University Education (CUE).
As of now, no tangible actions have been taken to address this pressing issue.
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